Howardville man to go on trial for woman's murder

A New Madrid County officer escorts Jann Wofford from the courtroom to the jail following his preliminary hearing Thursday.(Jill Bock, Staff)

NEW MADRID -- Following the testimony of six witnesses, a Howardville man was ordered bound over for trial on charges of first degree murder and armed criminal action.

Associate Judge Charles Spitler ruled following a preliminary hearing Thursday afternoon, there was sufficient evidence presented against Jann Wofford, 55, for a trial for the fatal shooting of Dorothy Hood.

Wofford, who sat quietly throughout the proceedings in the small courtroom, listened as witnesses detailed the events of Feb. 16 and 17 and the discovery of Hood's naked body along a country road. Some of Hood's family members wept as New Madrid County Prosecuting Attorney Lewis Recker's questions brought out details of the death.

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